Dennis Hopper Defies Death

Dennis Hopper Defies Death

How gratifying to see Dennis Hopper defy death! In this 1983 clip by documentary filmmaker Brian Huberman (on the jump), Hopper decides to edify the audience at Rice University Media Center by scrapping the speech, busing everybody to a racetrack, climbing under a coffin, and having a stunt expert blow it up. “The two-way radio will set off that dynamite right now, so let’s just be cool for a minute here!” says Hopper. Terry Southern gravely makes the sign of the cross. Wim Wenders tells Huberman, “Otherwise I blow your camera up, jah? If there’s one stick of dynamite left, I put it in your camera.”

“The guy’s a little bit wasted, but he knows what he’s doing,” somebody says. Channeling his pal Elvis Presley, Hopper says, “Pardon us, we have to T.C.B.: take care of business.” After the blast, Hopper gives a brief shell-shocked lecture. “It’s like bein’ hit by Muhammad Ali, man…It’s a theory I have of how solar systems are made — you see, dynamite doesn’t blow in on itself….Now that I’m not into sex anymore, I guess I’ll just–I may start reading.” The lesson of the day, according to Film Professor Hopper: “I have to say, whoooo-eeey!”

I have to say what the racetrack announcer says: “DENNIS HOPPER! DENNIS HOPPER, Ladies and gentlemen!”